China and Sudan have agreed to strengthen military ties, highlighting their co-operation as Western nations seek UN action over violence in Darfur.

On Monday, Cao Gangchuan, the Chinese defence minister, told Haj Ahmed El Gaili, Sudan's visiting joint chief of staff, that Beijing wants to extend military links, the Xinhua news agency reported.

The US and other Western powers have sought to pressure Sudan into accepting UN peacekeepers to quell violence in its western province of Darfur.

But China, which buys much of Sudan's oil and wields veto-power over UN resolutions, has rejected UN forces without Khartoum's agreement.

Xinhua reported that Cao told Gaili: "Military relations between China and Sudan have been developing smoothly for a long time."

Haj Ahmed El Gaili arrived in Beijing on Sunday for an eight-day visit to China, Xinhua said.

Beijing says it favors a no-strings approach to investment and aid in Africa and has blocked Security Council resolutions critical of Khartoum.

Sudan is the biggest target for Chinese investment in Africa, a UN agency reported last week.

PHOTO CAPTION

Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir (R) and Chinese President Hu Jintao wave during a visit to the Chinese-built Khartoum oil refinery, February 2, 2007. (Reuters)

Al-Jazeera (summarized)